Culture

Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees

The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees may not be quite the same as the old days (the orange-throwing-for-a-wish practice is now prohibited) but the trees still provide a joyous, beautiful atmosphere—much more active and energetic than a traditional temple visit.

Hong Kong

TL;DR

Hong Kong’s luckiest village

The mood

A carnival of optimism

The crowd

Hong Kong families and students

The experience

Beautiful banyan trees and a 700-year-old tradition

Best for

A break from the busy city

Our Review

Tell me: What’s this place all about?When Hong Kongers are in need of a bit of luck, they flock to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in Fong Ma Po Village—about 1.5 hours north of Central by public transit (30 minutes by cab). According to legend, when a villager fell ill during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279 AD), she gave an offering to the trees and wished for health. After a miraculous recovery, other villagers followed suit and the tradition stuck. How does it work? Write down your wish on a piece of joss paper (traditional religious papers), tie it to an orange, and toss it into the branches. If the orange finds a resting place in the tree (the higher, the better), your wishes should come true.

Wow. What’s it like being there?It’s not quite the same as the old days. For starters, the orange-throwing practice is now prohibited, due to falling branches and subsequent injuries. Instead of tossing wishes onto the banyan trees, guests are instead encouraged to throw plastic oranges on replica plastic trees (or a set of wooden racks nearby). A few other things have changed over the years, too: There’s now a performance area for folk traditions (which you’re most likely to see during Chinese New Year), as well as a “Wishing Well” that runs along Lam Tsuen canal. The tradition has no historical reference, but still, lots of people send their notes downstream.

Who comes here?Particularly during the first few days of Chinese New Year (usually in January or February), the area brims with local Hongkongers wishing for prosperity, health, and happiness in the new year. At other points during the year, you’re more likely to see gaggles of school students, praying for passing grades.

Did it meet expectations?Set next to a small 18th-century shrine in a 700-year-old village in northern Hong Kong, the Wishing Trees provide a joyous atmosphere—much more active and energetic than a traditional temple visit. Even if you don’t believe in the Wishing Trees’ magical powers, it’s hard to argue with their beauty and historic value.

Got it. So, then, what, or who, do you think it’s best for?During Chinese New Year, the area draws thousands of local wishmakers. If you’re pressed for time—or a little claustrophobic—then we’d suggest avoiding this time of year. While you can reach the far-flung village via metro and bus combination, it’s significantly faster to take a taxi.